GUWAHATI: Suspected militants waylaid at least three vehicles passing by two tribal villages along Manipur’s Ukhrul-Imphal Road Wednesday and abducted 20 Naga men, women and children at gunpoint, potentially igniting a fresh ethnic firestorm in a state already scarred by the Meitei-Kuki conflict. Ukhrul-headquartered organisation Tangkhul Naga Long alleged mass abduction was handiwork of Kuki militants, calling it a “pre-planned act of violence targeting the Nagas” and demanding state and central govts rescue them “within two hours or face the consequences”.

Manipur CM: Release all civilians unconditionally

Manipur’s new CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh, who took up office on Feb 4, put out an appeal as the security establishment scurried to make sense of the abductions from near Mongkot Chephu and Shangkai, both Kuki villages.“Deeply concerned by reports of civilians being held captive along the Ukhrul-Imphal road. I strongly urge those responsible to immediately release all civilians safely and unconditionally,” Khemchand said in a statement released on social media. “Senior officials have been directed to act urgently. I appeal to all CSOs (civil society organisations) and stakeholders to help maintain peace”.No militant outfit had owned responsibility for the abductions till late Wednesday. A statement by the Shangkai Village Authority, representing residents of a Kuki settlement in Ukhrul, suggested that Tangkhul Naga “volunteers” started the confrontation but did not mention the abductions. It accused them of opening fire on farmers in the fields of Thowai Kuki village, “detaining” several Kukis and setting ablaze huts. In another area, two workers repairing a water pipe were reported missing after being shot at by suspected Tangkhul assailants, the village authority said. A third villager with a bullet injury to his leg has been hospitalised.“In the light of these developments, locals blocked vehicles along Ukhrul Road, demanding the immediate release of the missing persons,” the village authority said.